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City planners seek reforms in legislation

BHUBANESWAR: Architect Hafeez Contractor emphasised on the need for reforms in legislation governing Floor Space Index (FSI), Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and No Development Zone (NDZ) and said architecture should be based on current demands which may inspire architects.

Speaking at NATCON-2017 here on Saturday, Contractor advocated for judicious use of land, vertical growth of cities and the need for their sustainable compactness to maintain perfect harmony between increasing population and limited land resources.

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“Expansion of cities will eat into farm lands and eventually upset the ecological balance. We have to find out new ways and have a new approach towards designing our cities which will be sustainable in every means,” said Contractor, who is known for his creative structures that exemplify functional and aesthetic qualities.

A leading architect Pratima Joshi emphasised on building balanced connects between various social states and the cities. She cited various examples of the cities of Pune and Kolhapur where she has made an attempt of transforming the lifestyles of informal sectors with a new dimension under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

During a panel discussion, Tourism Director Nitin Jawale said, the architecture of historical imprints of the temple city of Bhubaneswar should be reflected in the built up infrastructure. Besides the architects, the Department of Tourism and Culture has a great opportunity in encompassing the act and architecture of the State, he said.

While Head of the Department of IIT-Kharagpur Prof SC Chattopadhay elaborated on the efficient housing policies and made a review of the past and present programmes under various Government schemes, Prof BK Sengupta emphasised on the role of Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) guidelines and how zooming can be integrated smartly in Smart City plans.